Tension Headaches

Whether headaches are a frequent visitor at your house or a once in a while acquaintance, they are no fun!  I have to say, I am not one of those people that get migraines on a daily or weekly basis, and I am so thankful for that.  I do get plagued with tension headaches quite often, which I know don't compare to migraines, but are no fun either.

Some facts/symptoms of tension headaches:

• Tension headaches affect women slightly more often than men.

• Tension headaches typically begin during the adolescent years and peak in the 30's.

•  By far the most common type of headache is a tension headache, which is caused by tension occurring somewhere within the musculoskeletal system and/or the muscles of the face, head, or neck.

• Symptoms of tension headaches usually begin in the back of the head or neck, and then spread upward and forward to encompass more of the head and face.

• The pain tends to be dull but persistent, as if a tight band was wrapped around the skull.

Headaches are so hard to deal with.  They can literally ruin your day.  These are some things that do wonders with tension headaches...

• Massage Therapy - is a wonderful way to relieve tension and stress.  It is something I would do on a weekly basis if time and money would allow.
• Healthy Diet - I have found that the healthier I eat, (more whole foods, fruits and veggies) the less tension headaches I get.  If I get a lot of tension headaches in a short period of time, I usually try a whole foods cleanse.
  
• Yoga & Meditation - stretches and calms the muscles that are causing pain. 
• Essential oils - chamomile, eucalyptus, lavender, marjoram, peppermint, and rosemary are the ones that seem to work best.  They should be applied to the head, face and neck, according to where the pain is coming from.
•  Raw Garlic - improve blood flow (I swear by garlic. It is such an easy and powerful natural curing option). Click here for the explanation of how garlic works.  
• Ginkgo Biloba - can be found at your local health foods store.  It is an extract of the ginkgo tree and  improves blood flow.
  
•  Ginger - raw (chop up and swallow whole) or in capsules, found at the local health foods store.  It helps stop the progression of headaches when taken at the first sign of headache symptoms.
• Drink lot's and lot's of water.

I hope that some or all of these options can help you like they have helped me.  Always remember a calm and collective attitude when trying new things.  No use in stressing and making the problem you're having get worse.

Common Cold & Flu

 Everyone has had it... everyone hates it.  I have the kind of immune system (and so do my children) that if I ever use an antibiotic, I end up getting another sickness just days after I finish it.  Antibiotics kill ALL bacteria, good and bad, so your body is very vulnerable after you are done with it.  The vicious cycle never ends, unless I find a cure to the problem.  There were times where my son and I were sick for months (yes, months!) straight!  And everything we would get usually started with a common cold.  Here are the methods that I find work best...

• Vitamin C - 3000-5000 mg per day (literally load up on it!).

• Tincture of Echinacea - as directed on bottle, 3-4 times per day (I put it in fresh squeezed OJ, to get more Vitamin C).

•  Raw Garlic - At least 2-3 raw cloves per day, 4-5 cloves a day if possible. Chop a clove into 5 or 6 pieces and then swallow the pieces whole like pills.  Raw garlic acts as a broad-spectrum antibiotic, without the added antibiotic side effects of the development of antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria, or the development of yeast infections or thrush. The antimicrobial property in garlic, allicin, is very sensitive to heat and is destroyed when cooked. In order for it to work, it needs to be raw. Swallowing the cloves with orange juice helps with the taste for me. Allicin is also what gives garlic its pungent odor, so the deodorized garlic capsules that some companies offer are essentially useless, if they are being taken for the antimicrobial properties. However, deodorized garlic is still beneficial for its blood pressure reducing properties and for stimulating the immune system. 

• Xlear - a nasal spray that is a combination of xylitol and saline nasal spray that has shown to be effective in soothing and moisturizing the sinuses and nasal passages (I swear by this stuff for my whole family).  It's usually found on any grocery store's pharmacy counter, or drug section.

•  Probiotics - found at any health foods store.  Probiotics are live microorganisms which when administered in adequate amounts confer a health benefit on the host.  They basically add good bacteria to your body, to help fight off your illness.  I like Udo's Choice and Nature's Way brands.  They need to be kept cooled, so I would only buy if they have been kept in a refrigerated section.

•    Drink lot's and lot's of water!

I have found the most important part of stopping a cold before it starts (or at least before it gets too bad), is so it does not develop into anything more severe.  Like: a sinus infection, bronchitis, pneumonia, strep throat, etc.  I have cured a sinus infection with these methods, but would seek medical attention for any of the others.  If you need to take an antibiotic, these methods still work wonders in building your immune system back up.  I would start when your antibiotic cycle is almost through.  Best of luck!      

Anxiety & other mood disorders

 

For those of you that have ever suffered from anxiety or are currently suffering from anxiety; know how heartbreaking it is; to not feel right or comfortable in your own skin or circumstances.

Some well known facts about Anxiety...

• The root meaning of the word anxiety is 'to vex or trouble'; in either presence or absence of psychological stress, anxiety can create feelings of fear, worry, uneasiness and dread.

• Anxiety is considered to be a normal reaction to a stressor. It may help someone to deal with a difficult situation by prompting them to cope with it. When anxiety becomes excessive, it may fall under the classification of an anxiety disorder.

• Anxiety is a generalized mood condition that can often occur without an identifiable triggering stimulus.

 After I had my first child, I started to get worried about things.  Overly worried about things I could not change.  I would create horrible accidents in my head and would be obsessively worried that they would come to happen.  I would lay awake at night, crying, not even knowing why.  I would feel so stressed, with an uncontrollable heart rate, and have no clue why.  The list goes on.  I finally decided to read a book, called 'The Mood Cure'.  Possibly one of the best decisions of my life.  It gave me hope that I could change my fate- and that I didn't need to suffer or feel like this anymore.  Here is a list of what I used (from the book and researched other ways) that seriously worked.

• SAM-e - a supplement that you can find at your local health foods store.  It is short for S-adenosyl-L-methionine.  It's found naturally in the body and is increases levels of neurotransmitters serotonin and dopamine.
• Folic Acid - found in green leafy vegetables, other vegetables, fruit, beans and fortified grains.  Also found in a B-complex supplement.  FYI: Folic Acid is one of the most common vitamin deficiencies because of poor diet, but also because chronic conditions and various medications such as aspirin and birth control pills can also lead to deficiency.
• 5-HTP - a supplement that you can find at your local health foods store.  It is produced naturally in the body and is used to make the neurotransmitter serotonin.  It is short for 5-hydroxytryptophan.  FYI: Experts say that it should not be combined with antidepressants.
• Omega-3 Fatty Acids - this is the good fat needed for normal brain function.  Our bodies can't make omega-3's on their own, so we must obtain them through our diet.  I obtain mine through 'golden flax seeds'.  I grind them up and put them in a fruit smoothie (they work best when they are ground or "opened" - flax meal also does not work as proficiently, as it is best when you grind right before consumption).  
•  Gaba Calm - a subliminal supplement that you can find at your local health foods store.  It is a synergistic blend of the very nutrients upon which your body relies to combat stress and remain in a serene state when faced with over stimulation: the key neurotransmitters GABA, Taurine, and Glycine.
• Rescue Remedy - found at your local health food store (I have also seen it at Harmon's, in Utah).  It is a spray formula that is made up of a five individual flower remedies that help you cope with the different emotional aspects of stressful situations

These honestly worked miracles with my anxiety (I know I say that a lot).  I noticed a difference in the way I felt almost immediately.  I would pop a 'Gaba Calm' tablet into my mouth if I started having any ill feelings or emotions.  Now it has been more than a year and I don't have to take any of these anymore and feel great!  They cured me!  I have talked with numerous people that have used these same remedies with depression, postpartum depression, postpartum psychosis (after receiving medical attention), addiction to drugs, baby blues, and so on.  Here is another small list of things I didn't personally try, but know people that have.

• St. Johns Wart
• Magnesium
• Vitamin B6
• Avoiding Caffeine and Alcohol
• Reducing or cutting out intake of sweets

Be patient with yourself and be diligent when you decide what you're going to use.  Don't give up after a day or two.  Best of luck.

My lovely friend, Mastitis

I am currently breastfeeding my second child.  I absolutely love breastfeeding and I am a very avid supporter of the cause.  This time around hasn't been the easiest, as I have been plagued with mastitis for (currently) the 4th time.

Some facts/symptoms of Mastitis:

• Mastitis appears to be the body's way of telling mom to SLOW DOWN.

• Typical mastitis symptoms include a fever of 101.3°F (38.5°C) or greater, chills, flu-like aching, malaise and systemic illness.

• Mastitis may come on suddenly, and usually affects just one breast.

• There may be red streaks extending outward from the affected area.

• Very sore and/or painful breasts (usually it's just a specific area on one breast).

Mastitis always seems to occur when I am over-doing it, so it has been my time where I tell my husband to take the kids, and let me rest (besides nursing, nursing, nursing)!  Here is what I have discovered that has cured my mastitis is just a couple days...

• Do NOT decrease or stop nursing when you have a plugged duct or mastitis, as this increases risk of complications (including abscess).
• NURSE, NURSE, NURSE! - Nurse your baby for as long as possible
• Raw Garlic - At least 2-3 raw cloves per day, 4-5 cloves a day if possible. Chop a clove into 5 or 6 pieces and then swallow the pieces whole like pills.  Raw garlic acts as a broad-spectrum antibiotic, without the added antibiotic side effects of the development of antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria, or the development of yeast infections or thrush. The antimicrobial property in garlic, allicin, is very sensitive to heat and is destroyed when cooked. In order for it to work, it needs to be raw. Swallowing the cloves with orange juice helps with the taste for me. Allicin is also what gives garlic its pungent odor, so the deodorized garlic capsules that some companies offer are essentially useless, if they are being taken for the antimicrobial properties. However, deodorized garlic is still beneficial for its blood pressure reducing properties and for stimulating the immune system. 
• Tincture of Echinacea - as directed on bottle, 3-4 times per day.
• Tincture of Oregon Grape Root - as directed on bottle, 3-4 times per day.
• Vitamin C - 3000-5000 mg per day (literally load up on it!).
• Cold or Warm Compresses - I've talked to women that like cold, and some that like warm, but I have tried both and they both worked for me.  Rotating between the two would probably be ideal.
• Hot Shower or Bath - let the water just run over your breast and massage toward the nipple. 
• REST, REST, REST! - This is your time to rest, ladies.  Take advantage of feeling like garbage and just lay in bed.  It is what your body needs.

If you feel a plugged duct or mastitis coming on, a great way to kick it before it gets worse is to put a whole cabbage leaf inside of your bra, right next to your breast.  This has worked wonders for many people I know.  If you would like to find out more information on plugged milk ducts or mastitis, I really like kellymom.com.

If you do not start feeling better with-in 24-48 hours, seek medical attention.

Welcome, Welcome, Welcome!

I am very devoted (dare I say obsessed?) with finding natural curing options for the everyday sickness and beyond.  I love the idea of using natural grown herbs, foods and more to cure illnesses that plague us all.  Sickness is NEVER fun and it NEVER comes at ideal time.  This blog is going to be devoted to sharing many natural curing options that really work.  That have cured me, my family and friends without antibiotics or harsh medicine.  I hope you enjoy...